Blink Twice: A Glossy, Grindhouse-Inspired Tale of Revenge and Redemption

Zoë Kravitz makes her directorial debut with "Blink Twice," a visually striking and exploitative thriller that follows a young woman seeking revenge for a past trauma. Despite its stylish visuals and electric performances, the film ultimately falls short of its potential, failing to fully explore the complexities of its subject matter.

Zoë Kravitz's directorial debut, "Blink Twice," is a visually striking and exploitative thriller that follows a young woman seeking revenge for a past trauma. Despite its stylish visuals and electric performances, the film ultimately falls short of its potential, failing to fully explore the complexities of its subject matter.

Blink Twice: A Glossy, Grindhouse-Inspired Tale of Revenge and Redemption

The film opens with a gruesome scene of violence that leaves the protagonist, April (played by Kravitz herself), traumatized and vengeful. As she tries to piece together what happened, she becomes entangled in a web of deceit and danger, encountering a cast of unsavory characters, including a manipulative doctor (Tim Blake Nelson) and a ruthless gangster (Boyd Holbrook).

Kravitz directs with a confident eye, paying homage to the grindhouse thrillers of the 1970s and 1980s. The film is filled with lurid imagery, graphic violence, and a sense of pervasive unease. The visuals are often stunning, with a vibrant color palette and imaginative use of lighting.

However, the film's exploitation-inspired aesthetic ultimately feels like a superficial attempt to distract from its underdeveloped story. The characters are shallow and underdeveloped, and their motivations are often unclear. The film's exploration of trauma is also superficial, reducing it to a simplistic tale of revenge.

Kravitz and her co-writer, E.T. Feigenbaum, attempt to inject some complexity into the story by introducing a subplot involving April's estranged sister. However, this subplot feels underdeveloped and shoehorned in, failing to add any meaningful depth to the characters or the story.

Despite its flaws, "Blink Twice" benefits from strong performances from its cast. Kravitz is magnetic as the tormented and vengeful April, delivering a performance that is both emotionally raw and physically demanding. Nelson and Holbrook are also memorable, creating characters that are both menacing and pathetic.

Ultimately, "Blink Twice" is a missed opportunity. It is a visually striking and suspenseful thriller that fails to live up to its potential. The film's exploitation-inspired aesthetic feels superficial, the characters are underdeveloped, and the exploration of trauma is simplistic. Despite its strong performances, the film lacks the emotional depth and narrative complexity to truly resonate.